Dawny lets us down

In the article Tide turns on terminal in GCB 5 Oct 2012 individual councillors are shown in answer to the question -

Do you support a cruise ship terminal at the Broadwater?

Apparently Dawn Critchlow has given it the green light.

"Southport councillor Dawn Crichlow said it was time for the council to make a decision."

Are we missing something here - the city is in gridlock looking like a war zone.Every second shop is boarded up.Cavil Mall is a mess and rumoured to be at a stand still construction wise due to "issues".

Some of these clowns are advocating we dig up the Spit for a Terminal known to offer little economic value with obvious and well documented environmental and social issues.There is the Commonwealth Games that offer some great opportunities for sensible development with lasting benefits for the community.Why do we continue to come up with ideas that give away public open space to developers.

Dawn was once a staunch Save Our Spit fan. Spoke at our rallies with that trademark gravel voice "Peter Beattie is no fool..."Dawn came to our AGM's and was a location for our stickers in the previous campaign.So Dawn you have let us down.

The good news is Dawn can change her mind - as she was previously an advocate for a golf course at the Spit - if I have one speech right, and admitted she was wrong back then.I think of Dawn every time I stop at the new set of lights that replaced the underground tunnel into Nerang St Southport - apparently Dawn advocated for the lights due to social issues in the tunnel (correct us if wrong here).

I had heard that Dawn was in favour of the Terminal but had nothing concrete.Recently at the 25th Aniversary of Gold Coast Vetererans ceremony I was attending to see my neice sing (Labrador Primary senior choir) I spotted Dawn after the event and thought this may be a good chance to get it from the horses mouth so to speak.I waited patiently in line and got my chance "hi Dawn I just wanted to ask about the process involved..."Anyway her instant recoil gave me the answer I needed - she's jumped ship - a few ladies were also keen to talk to Dawn involved with the verterans so I backed off as this was not the time or place but I had my answer my gut reaction made no mistake.

Councillors stand up for yourselves - do not hide behind a report you voted to spend council money on producing - a Cruise Terminal will never work in the Broadwater or Spit.If you don't understand what damage will be caused to Straddy, The Broadwater, Diving and Fishing ask someone who knows we do - we have spent over 7 years researching this issue and plenty of experts are available.

Peter Beattie and Anna Bligh realised the risks far out weighed the perceived gain and correcly decided to abandon plans for a Cruise Terminal at the Spit.

If all you can come up with are ideas to keep digging things up perhaps its time to move on, the majority of people on the Gold Coast do not want this with many making it their key issue - hence you totally misjudge the electorate if you think they have bought the economic benefit BS.

We don't blame any councillor for holding back whilst Mr Tate went bull at a gate - however its time to stand up for the community who elected you.We don't stand for bullying for our kids so why allow our councillors to be bullied as clearly no one is saying much on this important issue.A fence sitting approach is simply not good enough - please stand up for your community and put this thing to bed permanently.